Dates
Eddie Carl Paxton's earthly life story drew to an end on Thursday, September 3, 2015 at 10:07a.m. at his home in Carlsbad, Texas with family attending him in his last days and hours. The 72 years of this Texas Boy's life were adventurous, full of life, love, and accomplishment and family. He has left a beautiful legacy in the things he built and created with the most important being the legacy of family.
"Carl" was born to John Calvin Paxton and Bessie Yarbrough Paxton in the Texas Panhandle on August 27, 1943. He was the sixth born and youngest son of the ten children born to his parents. This family of 5 boys and 5 girls had the usual struggles of the economic hard times of the era. His mother and father remained together despite hardships and managing a large family to celebrate their 50th anniversary. His early independence led him to work with his twin uncles, Hershall and Guy Paxton on ranches in West Texas. He returned home often to San Angelo and worked with his father laying carpet and flooring and there met Sammie Jo Boatright, whom he called "my angel."
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Paxton were married in San Angelo, Texas on July 30, 1960. This young couple lived mostly in the San Angelo area and built lives deeply intertwined with family. Carl and Sammie had homes, built lives, made friends and memories in the Lake View District of San Angelo, Farmington N.M., Carlsbad, N.M., Ruidoso, N.M., Mertzon, Texas, and a final home at Carlsbad, Texas. Carl and Sammie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary at their home in Carlsbad, Texas on July 30, 2010, just four months before he had to say goodbye and give his "Angel" her final kiss on November 13, 2010 as she died peacefully at their home.
The four children born to Carl and Sammie, Annette Paxton Martin, Angie Paxton, Carla Paxton Lindley, and John Paxton were blessed to have the devotion and dedication of family that these two lived out day to day. To date, Carl and Sammie have had the privilege of the same love and devotion and blessings being returned to them by their four children, nine grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.
In Paxton's 72 years of providing for himself and his family, he worked as a ranch hand and cowboy, carpet layer, truck driver, in the purchasing/selling of scrap metal, as a butcher, in facility maintenance, most extensively as a welder, and most recently as a diesel mechanic. This hard working man, known to some as "Pakie" or "Carly" spent most of his life successfully self-employed and was still working hard until mid-August 2015.
Some of the more adventurous things Carl loved and invested hard work and time into included the grueling West Texas ranch work in the 50's with his uncles, race car driving in the San Angelo area in the early 70's, challenging business start-ups independently and some with various family members including P&L Construction and Paxton-Dannheim Welding in the 80's. This time in the 80's also included the challenging ranch work and gathering he did with his son-in-laws and other cowboys. Carl's family always traveled, explored, and spent time outdoors. There was always good food at every celebration of the year and all were welcome.
This Paxton family attended several churches. The two most significant were Calvary Baptist in San Angelo, Texas where Carl's wife and children saw him commit his life to Christ and be baptized. His most recent church affiliation was with Water Valley Baptist Church where he and Sammie felt most at home and loved. After the passing of his wife, Carl stood with his beloved pastor, RF Ford, and rededicated his life to Christ so that he could "make sure" he would again be with Sammie in heaven.
The remaining family includes: Jodie and Annette Martin of Fort Stockton, Texas; Angie Paxton of Carlsbad, Texas; John Paxton of Carlsbad, Texas; Herman and Carla Lindley of Mertzon,Texas; Shaun, Sarah, Brynn, and Jace Smith; Skipper, Ashley, Piper, and Penelope Michulka Carson and Thomas Mackie; Daniel and Amanda Kern; Deriek, Joli, Jaxon, Harper, and Briar McDowell; Ross and Marley Dannheim; Ric, Tanna, and Brazos Villarreal; Jayton, Sara, and Riley Lindley; Johnathon Carl Paxton; and Justin and Crista Paxton. We have all spent time with him and had to say goodbye too soon, but we will never feel cheated because E.C.P. gave to us all he had and taught us much about life, love, devotion, and friendship. He was not a perfect man but he taught us how to be a good husband, daddy, father-in-law, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. He taught us how to give it our all and never quit. Eddie Carl Paxton's legacy lives on as he is safely residing in heaven with his Savior and his "Angel."